The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1887-03-04
KENosHA BUSINESS MEN.
LENT & FUNCK.

Mr.. 1nlnp II. LentZ, native oil
Germany, has had varied business ex.
perience. He came to Kenosha in 1850
and prospected around for nearly year
then i'll 1851 went TO work for E. S. & III.
K. Elkins, in the grain warehouse. In
1856 he went with Mr.. H. K. Elkins to
Sturgeon River, Mich, in the lumber
business then came back to Kenosha
and worked for the Kenosha Pier Com
Ipany till 1858. Mr.. Lentz then went in
to the overland transportation of goods
between Kenosha and Geneva, on his
own account, for several months, when
he secured the position of baggage-mas-
ter at the depot, under Mr.. Brockway
In 1859 he went on farm for a couple
of years. In 1861 Mr.. Lentzs'went to
Ahnapee, in charge of Mr.. George Heads
lumber business then went with the
business into the employ of Mr.. w. B.
Selleck. Coming back to Kenosha, he
went into the employ of Mr.. Peter
Wood, following this by working in the
foundry, and leaving this for employ.
ment for the Kenosha Pier Company
again. In 1867 Mr.. Lentz took posi-
ton in the grocery store of Mr.. William
Ernst, in the premises where Mr.. Charles
Gonnermann is now located. For ten
years Mr.. Lentz worked, late and early,
always at his post, the business being of
such miscellaneous character that all
hands were all the time "on a rush"
Mr.. Maurice N. Funck, also of German
descent, was young man in 1869, which
yxyos foo yoor IF ,io odvonf into
Mr.. Funck commenced his business
career by entering the service of Messrs.
zee Fellows & Co., then located in
Kimball Block. In 1870 he took posi-
ton in the large wholesale dry goods
establishment of Messrs. Marshal, Field
& Co., Chicago, where he remained un-
til the big Chicago fire burned him out.
He then returned to Kenosha, and went
into the store Of Mr.. William Ernst,
taking charge of Mr.. Ernst's dry goods
business, where he served his employer
until 1876.
In 1876, Mr.. Philip H. Lentz and Mr..
Maurice N. Funck went into partnership,
and opened q grocery store in the Opera
House Block, where they are still locat-
ed. Both gentlemen having had ex-
perience in the business, their success
was an assured fact from the beginning.
Here the firm continued the business
successfully for three years when, in
1879, the business was enlarged by the
addition of the dry goods department,
and Mr.. William F. Fisher was taken
into the partnership. For three years
the firm of Fisher, Lentz & Co. carried
on the dry goods and grocery business,
when. the hive becoming too full a
separation of partners occurred, and Mr..
Fisher withdrew. The firm again be-
came Lentz & Funck, who continued
in the same line, securing the services OF
Miss Katie Loescher as superini endent
of the dry goods department. Their
quarters soon became too small for their
increasing business, and large room at
the rear other store was added. Some
relief vas given them by this addition,
but still they could hardly find place for
their growing trade. The room next
door was occupied as a saloon the
keeper held lease and could not be
induced to vacate. Though cramped
and annoyed, the firm waited impatient
ly for the time when they might secure
more room. At last the desired relief
came rather Unexpectedly the saloon
keeper failed, and after his business was
settled up the coveted additional store
was secured. Then the premises were
purified, beautifed and fitted up with
modern style of shelving and all the
conveniences of frst-class dry goods
establishment. The firm now have two
stores adjoining, the corner one being
occupied by the grocery, 20xS4 feet, and
the other by the dry goods department,
20x84 feet, with shelving the entire
length OF the room the two stores are
united by an arch near the middle.
Lentz & Funck carry on . very large
grocery and dry goods business and
ladies' furnishings Of every variety.
ORLA M. CALKINs.
Mr.. O. NJ. Calkins is born grocery
man, his father having been in the bust
ness for several years at Oswego, n. Y,
where Orla was born. MIR. Calkins en-
tered his fathers grocery at an early
age, and remained with him until his
fathers death in 1853. He and his
brother continued the business until
1856 then coming west, Mr.. Calkins
went to railroading, working on the Him
DIS Central Railroad rs fireman for |
year and half, and then running a |
swicth engine for six months. He left
the road In 1857 and went back east, |